Non-attrition process of and apparatus for washing and sorting coal.



\ H. ADAMS. NON-ATTRITION PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHlNG ANDSDRTING COAL APPLICATION FILED MAY H. 1916.

1,22%,35Q, Patented. May 1, 191?.

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H. ADAMS.

NON-ATTRITION PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND SORTING COAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIL \QIG Patented May 1, 1917.

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oniTnn sTaTas PATENT @FTTTCEE. a

HENRY ADAMS, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ADAMS MININGMACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

NON-ATTRITION PROCESS OF-AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND SORTING COAL.

Application filed ma 11, me. Se1'1alNo.96,774.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ADAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing in New. London, in.the county of New London and State ofConnecticut have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Non-Attrition Processes of and Apparatus for \Vashing and Sorting Goal, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This'invention relates to a process for sizing and separating mineralsand ores OI different specific gravities, and especially anthracitecoal, and the apparatus for carrying out such process.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a processwhereby the finer elements of a quantity of mineral, ore or coal that isbeing sorted will becatrried with jets of water or the like into troughsseparated fromone another, each provided for one of the series of jetsof water, and the heavier elements will be dropped into lowercompartments, the heavier of such heavier elements dropping into thecompartments nearest to the inlets of such jets while the lighter ofsuch elements drop into the compartments farther away' from such .Forcarrying out the process, an apparatus is disclosed particularly adaptedfor grading coal. By means of this apparatus, it will be seen that theheavier particles may be removed without first draining the water bywhich they have been washed, and only the receptacles or troughs for thelighter elements require drainage of water before removal.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the subjoined detail descri tion of one specificembodiment thereof il ustrated in the accompanying drawings in'which-Figure 1 is a fragmental front elevation of the apparatus, partiallybroken away.

1" ig. 2 is a sectional view of the portion of the apparatus used forseparating the slate and unrelated elements and the coal from oneanother.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.1 as used for separating the several grades of coal from one another.

In the portion of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a main housingA is pro- Specification of Letters Iatent. I

Patented May 1, 1917.

vided preferably of long1narrow construc- 11 and provided tion having arear wall 7 with three elongaterhialetslots 12, 13 and 14 and frontwfliid ii lflaving three elongated outlet slots 16,11? ahd 18 of greaterwidths than the slots 12,13 and 14; a roof member 19 having an elongatedopening 20 therein adjacent to the rear wall 11; and a floor member21'provided with partitions 22 extending upward therefrom to form thetroughs 23. w

Extending down from the elongated opening 20 in the roof member 19 thereare flange portions 24 converging downwardly to form a suitable mouthfor receiving the coal to be graded preparatory to feeding the same intothe housing A. Extending along the slots 12, 13 and 14 are the tubes 25,26 and 27 respectively each connected to the stand pipe 28 by suitableconnections 29, 30 and 31 respectively. The connections 29, 30. and 31are each provided with a control valve 32. The stand pipe 28 -issuitably connected to a reservoir 33 to which reservoir 33 the water oris pumped by the pump is also provided with valve 35.

.The outside of the front wall member 15 is suitablyv equipped withtroughs 35, 36 and 37 each secured adjacent to the lower 34.. Thereservoir a suitable controledges of the openings 16, 17 and 18respectively. The troughs 35, 36 and 37 have their outer wall membersextending upward beyond the upper edges of the openings 16, 17 and 18and their lower portions extending at an inclination to the horizontalto facilitate the water or liquid that may collect therein. v

For conveying the coal to be treated in the housing A to the opening 20,suitable elevator L is provided suitably guided by the sprockets 38 andprovided with buckets 39 or the like.

In the troughs 23, suitable receptacles 40 which may bemovable'conveyers are provided.

The tubes 25, 26 and 27, are provided with suitable openings wherebywater that is conveyed to such tubes may be discharged therefrom throughthe openings 12, 13 and 14 across the interior of the housing A to the oehings 16, 17 and 18 to be discharged there rom.

such as perforations,-

a suitable liquid The portion of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3consists essentially of a housing A similar to the housing A, having arear wall 11 provided with openings 12, 13 and 1ft; a front wall 15provided with openings 16', 17' and 18; a roof member 19 provided withthe openings 20- and a partition member 22' extending parallel to thewall members 11 and 15 and dividing the bottom of the housing A into twotrough members 23'.

.On the Outside of the rear wall member 11 tubes 25, 26' and 27 areprovided which similar to the tubes 25, 26 and 27 are also connected to.a reservoir and pump by means of which water may be fed to such tubes25, 26' and 27'.

As i ustrated in Fig.2 the openings 16,

17 and 8 are disposed at a lower level than the openings 12, 13 and 14,for this purpose,

the dischargeperforations of the tubes 25, 26 and 27will befsetaccordingly. It will also be seen that 'theppenings 16 and 18 aredisposed at lower (levels than their cooperating openings 12 and 14relative to the lower level of the opening 17.to its 006perating0peningf13. This is provided to exercise varijhus degrees of-impetus bythe water jets on the coal being treated.

Disposed above the opening 20 there is provided a suitable hopper 41 toreceive the a coal from the buckets 39 of the elevator L preparatory tophargino the same into the mouth of thehi msing A? On the outside of thefront wall 15', in-

clined troughs 35', 36' and 37 are secured adjacent to the Qpeni'ngs 16,17 and 1.8 respectively.- ,The levels of the openings 16', 17 and 18relative to the openings 12, 13' and 14. are similar to the difference,in levels of the openings 16, 17 and 18 relative to the openings 12, 13and 14 of the housingA.

Secured-to the inner side of the roof member 19 the inwardly extendingflange 'portions 24' are secured converging toward one another toprovide a mouth to thehousing A similar to the-mouth of the housing A.

Disposed above 'the opening 20 is provided a suitable hopper 41 toreceive'the coal proprietary'to discharging.the same .iiltu the mouth ofthe housing A; such hopper 41 receiving the coal from the buckets of" anelevator passing across the same similar to the buckets 39 of theelevator L of the housing A. p v

The steps of the process consist substantially of the following: Thecoal after having been broken to suitable siies and before the slate andother foreign material have been removed therefrom is discharged intothe mouth of .the housing A. The slate having a greater specific gravitythan coal when coming into contact with jets of water or the likedischarged by the tubes 25-,

. 26 and 27 will not be deflected thereby and is permitted to drop intothe trough 23' adjacent to'the rear wall member 11.. The coal thereforewill be deflected by such jets of water to drop into the trough 23 adjacent to the front wall member 15', and the lighter elements contained inthe mixture such as coal dust, and ver coal will be carried with t ejets of water into the troughs 35', 36 and 37 the heavier of suchelements naturally being conveyed to the lower trough 37'. In this wethe 'slate willbe separated from the coa and fine grades of some of thefiner grades of coal separated from the Heavier grades, such. finergrades settling in {he troughs 35, 36' and 37-1 ready for remove afterthe water has been drained 'from such troughs.

Thereupon the coal contained in the trough adjacent to the front wallmember 15 is conve ed .to the buckets 39 of the elevator L to adischarged into the housin' A for further sortin As the coal drops romthe .moutluof the ousting A the force of the jets next lighter grade ofcoal, for instance the chestnut grade, will be sufficiently deflected bythe jets of water to drop into the intermediate receptacle 40 and thegrade lighter than the chestnut as for instance pea grade will drop intothe receptacle 40 adjacent to the front wall member 15. The stilllightergrades including coal dust and like that may still be containedin the mix- I ture conveyed to the housing A will be carried with thejets of water according to them specific gravities and deposited in. the

troughs 35, 36 and 37 from which they may be removed after the drainageof the water from such'troughs.

. It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be ade to thesteps of the process of the ap aratus for carrying out such processwithout departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim 1. A process of treating minerals, ores,

' coal and the like consisting in conveying the same to an apparatus,permitting such elem'ents to be dropped down through the apparatus; dis-.chargin'g free, individual jets of Water under pressure against thefalling material during its gravitational. passage through theapparatus, so that the elements will be deflected and dropped intodifferent troughs freely; gravitationally such jets will be deposited insaid other 4 to .drop

another at different levels,

the like having a troughs according to their weights. j

2. An apparatus for treating coal and the like having a frame, therebeing a plurality of elongated inlet openings spaced from one I aplurality of elongated outlet 0 enings also spaced from one another atdi erent levels one for each oi" said inlet openings, means fordischarging jets of water from said inlet openings across the apparatusto said outlet openings and out through the same, a plurality of troughsin the bottom of said apparatus spaced Irom the inlet openings in agraduated manner, there being a mouth at the top of said apiaratus, andmeans for conveying coal to such month to permit the same todrop-therefrom, to be actuated upon by the several jets of water so thatthe elements according to their weight may be permitted in differenttroughs at the bottom of said apparatus and the lighter elements becarried with the jets of water and out through several outlet openingsaccording to their weight.

3. An apparatus for treating coal and the like havin a frame, there beina. )luralit of elongated inlet openings spaced from one another atdifferent levels, a plurality of elongated outlet openings also spacedfrom line another at diiierent levels one for each of said inletopenings, means for discharging jets of water from said inlet openingsacross the apparatus to said outlet openings and out through the same, aplurality of troughs in the bottom of said apparatus spaced from theinlet openings in a graduated manner, there being a mouth at the top ofsaid apparatus, means for conveying coal to such mouth to permit thesame to drop therefrom, to be actuated upon bythc several jets of waterso that the elements according to their weight may be permitted to dropindilierent troughs at the bottom of said apparatus and the lighterelements be carried with the jets of water and out through severaloutlet openings-according to their weight, and other troughs beingsecured to said apparatus adjacent to the outlet openings to receive thewater discharged therethrough and the liner elements of coal carriedthcrethrough.

4. An apparatus for treating coal and frame, there being a plu rality ofelongated inlet openings spaced from one another at different levels, apinrality of elongated outlet openings also spaced from oue'another atdiiierent levels due for each of said inlet openings, means fordischarging jets of Water from said inlet openings across the apparatusto said outlet openings and out through the same, a plurality of troughsin the bottom of said apparatus spaced from in a graduated manner, therebeing a mouth at the top of said apparatus, means for conveying coal tosuch mouth to permit the same to drop therefrom, to be actuat' d upon bythe several jets of water so thatlthe elements according to their Weightinay be permitted to drop in difi'erent troughs at the bottom of saidapparatus and the lighter elements to be carried with the jets of Waterand out through several outlet openings ac- U cording to their weight,and other troughs being secured to said apparatus adjacent to theoutletopenings to receive the water dis charged therethrough and the finerelements of coal carried therethrough, the

troughs being inclined to the horizontal to permit the drainage of theWater while the finer elements will settle in said troughs.

5. A process of treating minerals, ores, coal and the like consisting inconveying the same to a Washing and grading apparatus; permitting suchelements to be dropped down into the apparatus; discharging a pluralityof superposed jets of Water against the stream of such elements duringtheir passage through the apparatus 'at such the inlet openings pressurethat the more valuable commercial elements Will be deflected anddeposited into different grades at the bottom of such apparatusaccording Weights and fineness; the discharge of such jets through theapparatus being at difi'erent levels spaced from one another, at anangle to the line of passage of the material or elements -being washedand graded, so

as to deposit the finer less valuable elements into different grades; sothat the dust and finer elements of the mixture that may be carried withsuch jets Will be deposited according to their respective weights andfineness.

(LA process of treating minerals, ores, coal and the like consisting inconveying the same to a washing and grading apparatus; permitting suchelements to be freely to their respective gravitationally dropped downinto and j the apparatus; discharging a plujets of water againstfiected'and deposited into different grades at the bottom of suchapparatus according to their respective Weights and fineness;

elements at an angle,

and causing the discharge of such jets through the apparatus atdifferent levels spaced from one another and at such pressures as todeposit the finer materials into different additional grades, so thatthe dust :be carried with such jets will be deposited according to theirrespective weights and sizes, the anglevof impingement of each of thejets upon and through the stream of material being difl'erentandincreasing in horizontality from top to bottom.

' A process of treating. minerals, ores, coal and the like-consisting inconveying the same to a Washing andagrading apparatus; permitting suchelements to be freely gravitationally dropped down into and through theapparatus; discharging a plurality of superposed jets of Water againstthe stream of such elements at an angle thereto, during their passagethrough the apparatus, at such pressure that the more valuablecommercial elements will be deflected and deposited into differentgrades at the bottom of such apparatus according to their respectiveWeights and fineness; and causing the discharge of such jets through theapparatus at different levels spaced from one another and at suchpressures as to deposit the finer materials into different additionalgrades, so thatthe dust and finer elements I 01"th e mixture that may becarried with Y suchf'jets Will be deposited according to theirrespective Weights and sizes, the angle .ofimpingement of each of thejets uponand through the stream of material being sheets.

8. A process of treating minerals, ores, coal and the like consisting inconveying the same to a Washing and grading apparatus; permitting suchelements to be freely gravitationally dropped down into and through theapparatus; discharging a plurality of superposed jets of Water againstthe stream of such elements at an angle thereto during their passagethrough the apparatus at such pressure that the more valuable commercialelements will be deflected and depgisited into different grades at thebottom of such apparatus according to their respective weights andfineness; the discharge of such jets through the apparatus being atdifi'e-rent levels spaced from one another so as t deposit the finerless valuable elements iiito different grades; so that the dust andfiner elements of themixture that may be carried with such jets, will bedeposited according to their respective Weights and fineness; thedeflectin substantially horizontal grading and deflecting Water-jetsimpinging against and passing through the mass or stream of fallingmaterial to be HENRY ADAMS.

Witnesses:

GUSTAV DREWS, H. D. Penney.

graded in the form'of thin

